Bonobos, no homo. So I was vaguely aware of Bonobos as an undergrad, when the vegan co-op next door would occasionally throw parties with pictures of them on their fliers.  I knew they were one of our closest primate relatives (we share 98% of our DNA) and that they had a matriarchal society and had sex for purposes other than reproduction. I didn’t, however, research the specifics of their mating rituals, and I’m realizing now that I was missing out Bonobos are some of the least aggressive primates, and it’s largely due to the relationship they have between sex and food-sharing.  Instead of chimps or baboons, who have an alpha male monopolize food and women, they have a very interesting way of peaceably sharing food across the whole community.  When a food source is presented to bonobos in captivity, all of the males will get an erection, like Ron Swanson at a breakfast buffet.  Then all group members, regardless of gender, will start to have sex for a couple minutes to encourage some good vibes around the group. This paves the way for them to share the food amicably. Here is how it goes down: male and female: remarkably, they often assume missionary position, something no other primate species besides humans were thought to do. males and males: no joke, they hang from a branch and penis-fence.  females and females: they rub genitals or have oral sex. The female-female interactions are really important for the group dynamic, because this is how they maintain their matriarchy. The females maintain a strong bond with each other and are protective of each other, so if a male ever charges females who are getting ready to dole out food, the females will band together and block him menacingly. Finally, when a new female enters the group, she beelines towards the most popular or powerful females in the group and tries to mate with them.  If they are into it, this can cement her position in the group and help her to maintain a continued relationship.  I guess what this means is that,  if you were to ask a bonobo female for advice on how to befriend the popular girls in school, she would most likely recommend scissoring.

Bonobos, no homo.

So I was vaguely aware of Bonobos as an undergrad, when the vegan co-op next door would occasionally throw parties with pictures of them on their fliers.  I knew they were one of our closest primate relatives (we share 98% of our DNA) and that they had a matriarchal society and had sex for purposes other than reproduction. I didn’t, however, research the specifics of their mating rituals, and I’m realizing now that I was missing out

Bonobos are some of the least aggressive primates, and it’s largely due to the relationship they have between sex and food-sharing.  Instead of chimps or baboons, who have an alpha male monopolize food and women, they have a very interesting way of peaceably sharing food across the whole community. 

When a food source is presented to bonobos in captivity, all of the males will get an erection, like Ron Swanson at a breakfast buffet.  Then all group members, regardless of gender, will start to have sex for a couple minutes to encourage some good vibes around the group. This paves the way for them to share the food amicably.

Here is how it goes down:

male and female: remarkably, they often assume missionary position, something no other primate species besides humans were thought to do.

males and males: no joke, they hang from a branch and penis-fence. 

females and females: they rub genitals or have oral sex.

The female-female interactions are really important for the group dynamic, because this is how they maintain their matriarchy. The females maintain a strong bond with each other and are protective of each other, so if a male ever charges females who are getting ready to dole out food, the females will band together and block him menacingly.

Finally, when a new female enters the group, she beelines towards the most popular or powerful females in the group and tries to mate with them.  If they are into it, this can cement her position in the group and help her to maintain a continued relationship. 

I guess what this means is that,  if you were to ask a bonobo female for advice on how to befriend the popular girls in school, she would most likely recommend scissoring.

Tags: sex bonobos